Are you brand-new to the idea of DNA testing? Do you have questions about which test to take and what to expect from your test results? In this post, I'll answer some of the most common questions about DNA testing for ancestry. Which DNA test should I take While there are a few different types …
If you are interested in DNA testing, and you are a female with male siblings, or a male with female siblings, you might be wondering which one of you should be the one to take a DNA test. Does it make any difference? Will your results be the same? If you are full siblings, don't …
In this post, I'll explain to you what a quick and dirty family tree is, and how to use the tree to figure out how your DNA matches are related to you. Have you heard someone mention a "quick and dirty" family tree? Are you wondering how building a quick and dirty family tree can …
Have you used the X DNA Comparison tool on Gedmatch? If so, you've probably seen a message saying, "No shared X DNA segments found".
There is so much written out there about how many times family stories aren't true. Especially with the advent of DNA testing, it's easier than ever to prove or disprove long-held family beliefs. I had an interesting experience recently, however, that I would like to share. There is value to talking with older relatives and …
Do you have two relatives who are DNA matches to you, but not to each other? Are you wondering what this really means, and whether or not it could mean a mistake?
Have you heard of Gedmatch? If you have, you might wonder why you should upload your DNA to the site to use the available tools. In other words, why should you use Gedmatch? In this post, I will outline the top ten reasons that people use Gedmatch. I enjoy using the site, and I feel …
As you might know, Ancestry periodically updates their customers ethnicity estimates. Every single Ancestry DNA customer can log in to their account and see a completely updated estimate based on the latest technology and scientific developments. I often hear from my readers that these newly updated ethnicity estimates are confusing. So, if you are confused …
Are you interested in learning which DNA company is the best for detecting Native American ancestry? With all of the DNA news of late, it's no wonder that this has become a popular topic. In this post, I'll tell you which two companies offer the best test for finding Native American roots - and I'll …
Have you heard the news? Elizabeth Warren had her DNA examined by an expert, and guess what? Senator Warren does, in fact, have Native American DNA. It has been, and likely will continue to be, a contentious subject among both her followers and supporters. In this post, I'll explain her results and talk about how …
If you have been using Gedmatch for a while, there is a good chance that you have seen the "People Who Match One-or-Both of Two Kits" tool. At first glance, the results of this tool can be confusing, and in this post, I'll explain how to use the tool and how to understand the results. …
Do you want to learn how to upload your DNA file to Living DNA? By uploading to Living DNA, you can get more DNA matches. In this post, I'll show you how to upload your DNA to the site so that way you can get access to all of the information Living DNA has to …
If you have uploaded your DNA to Gedmatch, you might feel overwhelmed and confused with all of the different tools available. Here, find beginner tips for getting started on Gedmatch. You will learn the best way to use Gedmatch, even if you are brand-new to the site. It is an amazing website, and you will …
If you already did your DNA with Ancestry, you have probably already explored through the basics of your DNA results. You've seen your ethnicity estimate and your DNA matches, but do you want to use Ancestry DNA like an expert? In this post, I'll explain the top tips to learn as much as possible from …
Did you find the Baltic State ethnicity region in your Ancestry DNA results? Were you surprised, or were you expecting it? In this post, I'll discuss the location of this ethnicity region, how you might have inherited this particular ethnicity region, and how to get started tracing your Baltic States ancestors. From a personal standpoint, …
Do you need to figure out how you are related to a DNA match? In this post, you'll find a checklist with the best ways to find the information that you need to figure out how you might be related. It can be confusing when you have a genetic relative on your DNA match list …
If you want to really get the most from the DNA test that you took, read through this list of the most common mistakes people make with their DNA results.
Did you get the Eastern Europe and Russia DNA ethnicity in your ethnicity results? If you did, you are among almost 20 million Americans who can trace their ancestry back to Eastern Europe or Russia. The Eastern Europe and Russia DNA region is a fascinating region made up of more than twenty countries and spanning …
Have you been examining your Ancestry DNA results since they went through the major 2018 update? You are not alone! Many people find themselves confused, frustrated, excited, or even sad and angry about the major changes their results have undergone. To some people, their ethnicity estimate is confirmation of their identity - especially when it …
Have you checked your Ancestry DNA results lately? If you have, you might have noticed that they have gone through a very big change. In this post, I will help you learn how to explore your newly updated Ancestry DNA results. The 2018 Ancestry DNA update offers us a more nuanced insight into our ancestry, …
Did your Iberian Peninsula DNA region completely disappear from your ethnicity estimate after the Ancestry DNA September 2018 update? If this happened to you, you are not alone. In this post, I'll explain a little bit about why Iberian Peninsula might have been removed from your list, and what it may have been replaced with. …
The moment that we have all been waiting for has finally arrived! Ancestry DNA has officially rolled out the biggest update to its ethnicity estimates since the company began offering DNA testing. In this post, I'll share details about the update as well as discuss how the latest Ancestry DNA update can help us learn …
Do you have Filipino ancestry? Are you thinking about taking a DNA test like the one offered by Ancestry DNA? If so, you might be wondering how Filipino would show up on a DNA test. In this post, I'll explain what someone born in the Philippines or someone with Filipino roots could expect to see …
When you are doing genetic genealogy, the common advice is to ignore small segments because they are almost always identical-by-state (IBS), or false positives. The key phrase is "almost always", and in this post, we'll explore segments smaller than 10 centimorgans (cMs). You will learn: The reason that it's important to understand small segments is …
Do you want to know how much DNA second cousins should share? What about half-second cousins? In this post, I'll tell you everything you need to know about shared DNA between second cousins, including whether it is possible for second cousins to share no DNA. If you have second cousins on your DNA match list, …
Do you want an easy way to find out if you look like your ancestors? Let Family Search's new tool do the work for you. In this post, I'll teach you how it works. I have spent way too much time lately uploading my family photographs to Family Search's new "Compare a Face" tool to …
Are you curious about the ethnicity of your My Heritage DNA match? In this post, I'll explain how your DNA match's ethnicity can help you figure out how you might be related, how to access this information on My Heritage, and how to sort your matches by ethnicity. I've really enjoyed my My Heritage DNA …
Are you wondering how many ancestors you have? In this post, I'll teach you how to figure out how many ancestors you have - with a slight catch.
If many people have the same wrong person in your tree, and are DNA-matched, this could be confirmation bias in genetic genealogy. Learn how to avoid this!
Do you have Swedish ancestry? If you do, you might be interested in learning more about your Swedish immigrant ancestors, why they came to America, how to research your Swedish ancestry, and whether or not a DNA test can help you. If this sounds like you, this post will help you. Why did Swedish immigrants …
The Family Tree DNA Family Finder DNA match list has more to offer than meets the eye. Many people don't realize that you can access your DNA match's ethnicity, and in this post, I'll explain how to do it and how this might help you figure out how you are related to your DNA match. …
Are you ready to learn about chromosome browsers? You’ve arrived at this post, and you are ready to learn all about how a chromosome browser can help you really understand your DNA matches, get the most from your DNA results, and do some really accurate family tree research. Before we get started learning all about …
Did you get the Senegal DNA ethnicity on your Ancestry DNA results? If you are like most people, you are curious about the Senegal DNA ethnicity and want to learn more about how you might have inherited it, and you have come to the right place. In this post, you'll learn: My daughter's father is …
If you did your DNA test with Family Tree DNA, you might have some questions about your DNA match list. We all want to figure out how our DNA matches are related to us and there is a lot of information that, when interpreted correctly, can help us do just that. In this post, you'll …
Are you looking for a book about DNA and genealogy for absolute beginners? If so, did you do your DNA test with Ancestry DNA? My book, Your DNA Mystery: Solved, was written for beginners in genetic genealogy - people who want to learn more from their DNA results, just like you. It's only available in …
Have you heard all the fuss about Elizabeth Warren claiming to have Native American ancestry? Many of her defenders and detractors have suggested - even demanded - that she take a DNA test, but she has refused. Whether or not you agree with her politics or not, she's made the right decision by refusing to …
If you have been contacted by a DNA match who was adopted, or you've reached out to a match and discovered they are adopted, and you'd like to help them, this post is for you. It's wonderful that you want to be a good DNA cousin and family member to your newly discovered relation! In …
If you have found that your parent and sibling have a DNA match that doesn't match you, are you wondering how this could be? In this post, I'll explain how it can be possible that your dad (or mom!) and sibling can have a DNA match that you don't have. Here's a hint: It doesn't …
Curious if your DNA matches ancient remains in Siberia or Hungary? In this post, I'll tell you how you can compare your DNA to Ancient DNA Samples.
Do you want to know how to learn about your German immigrant ancestors? In this post, you will learn about German immigration to America, how to find your German ancestor's immigration records, and more! Are you one of the more than 44 million Americans with German ancestry? The number of German-Americans living in the United …
Whether you are curious about whether you and your great-great aunt or uncle share the expected amount of DNA, or you are wondering if your mystery DNA match could fit into the great-great uncle category, you have come to the right place. In this post, we'll discuss how much DNA someone might share with a …
In this post, I'll discuss the most common places where Europe West DNA might be found - both inside and outside of Europe, and how you can use this information to better understand your Europe West DNA results. Of course you know that you can find Europe West DNA in Europe, but did you know …